Animal Farm by George Orwell

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Intelligent people can and sometimes use propaganda, lies, or deceit to get what they want. This is shown through the characters actions in Animal Farm. These actions are mostly apparent with the pigs, the leaders and head group of the animals on Animal Farm, because of their high intelligence over the rest of the animals.

The first major sign of propaganda appears when the Pigs claim that they "need" all of the milk and apples for themselves in order to work most efficiently. The pigs declare that since they are the most intelligent and most crucial role in the unity of Animal Farm, they must consume all of the milk and apples themselves, for the better of the entire farm. Since almost all of the other animals on the farm lack the intelligence to defend their own opinions, they are easily manipulated to fully believe in what the pigs say, and don't see through their deception. In his speech on the topic of the milk and apples, Squealer, who is the witty spokesman for the pigs, explains:

‘"…We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happened if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!…"' (pg.52)

Squealer is trying to convince the animals that the milk and apples are essential to the overall stableness of the farm. However, in reality, it is obvious that the pigs only want the milk and apples to themselves for their own benefit. Squealer corners the other animals into a situation where they cannot challenge the idea by proclaiming that farmer Jones would come back to the farm. This frightens the other animals and makes them vulnerab...

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...nd excellent speaker and motivator to trick the other animals into getting what he wants. Since Napoleon lacks the strong, conjuring voice that Squealer displays, Squealer eventually ends up giving all of the speeches at the Animal Farm meetings. It is during these times, that he is able to change the small of opinions of the other animals, and confuse them enough to reluctantly agree to what Squealer is saying. Since almost all of the animals on the farm besides the pigs lack much intelligence, Squealer creates elaborate speeches that don't tell the full truth, and have double meanings, to corner the other animals into agreeing with him. Though the pigs use their intelligence to overpower the other animals, greed is a sign of unintelligence. If the pigs were truly smart, they would have made decisions for the better of the entire society, and not just for themselves.

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